![\"travel](\"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/traveltosaigon.jpg\" "\\"travel")
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Vietnam\u2019s southern metropolis, officially known as Ho Chi Minh City, may not have the picture-postcard charms of its northern counterpart Hanoi, but as a melting pot of cultures, cuisines, old meets new and East meets West, where shimmering skyscrapers rub shoulders with colonial-era mansions, it has much more to offer than many first-time visitors give it credit for.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a rundown of how to make your trip to Saigon a success (just click on one of the links below to jump directly to the section you\u2019re interested on).<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n Vietnam\u2019s tropical south experiences a dry season from November to April. The best time to visit is between early December and late February, when morning temperatures can start at a very pleasant 15\u00b0c, reaching a maximum of around 32\u00b0c by the afternoon. Low humidity and non-existent rainfall make these months the most comfortable for urban exploration.<\/p>\n If a visit during the wet season is unavoidable, it is worth bearing in mind that, although a tropical downpour is guaranteed almost every day, it will tend to arrive at around 2pm and be gone by 4 or 5pm. There are exceptions, of course, and while you can plan your day around the rain, it is always worth carrying an umbrella.<\/p>\n Most foreign visitors will need a visa to enter Vietnam. Visa-on-arrival is available at Tan Son Nhat Airport, although this can delay your onward transportation during busy periods. <\/p>\n Alternatively, single or multiple-entry visas can be arranged via your local Vietnamese embassy or consulate.<\/p>\n Recent legislation changes allow visitors from a select group of countries to visit Vietnam without visa for a short period of time. Read our article dedicated to visas for Vietnam to learn more<\/a>. <\/p>\n Also, be sure to check with your nearest Vietnamese embassy or consulate for the latest visa regulations before booking your trip.<\/p>\n Saigon\u2019s Tan Son Nhat International Airport<\/a> can be reached directly from numerous international destinations including London, Paris, Istanbul, Dubai, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore.<\/p>\n Locally, budget airlines such as Jetstar, VietJet, and AirAsia, run direct flights from all over the region and from all of Vietnam\u2019s major cities.<\/p>\n From Hanoi, Saigon can be reached in approximately two hours, for as little as US$25 (one way).<\/p>\n The \u2018Reunification Express\u2019 is Vietnam\u2019s most famous train service, running almost the entire length of the country from Hanoi to Saigon. The journey takes approximately 35 hours, incorporating either one or two nights onboard, with a range of private and communal cabin options available. A soft-sleeper private cabin bed (with AC) will cost approximately US$80.<\/p>\n Most travellers prefer to break the journey up by stopping off at destinations such as Hue, Danang (for Hoi An), and Nha Trang.<\/p>\n Visit www.seat61.com<\/a>, an English website, for all of the latest news, fares and timetables.<\/p>\n Buses can be used to reach Saigon from all over Vietnam. Prices, quality and drop-off points vary, so be sure to clarify exactly what you are paying for before handing over your cash.<\/p>\n For those in Cambodia, the Phnom Penh to Saigon bus route is an extremely affordable (and popular) route for locals and tourists. The journey takes approximately seven hours and drops passengers in the heart of Saigon\u2019s tourist hub.<\/p>\n Tan Son Nhat Airport lies approximately 7 kilometres from the city centre. A shuttle-bus service is now in place to ferry passengers from the terminal to the centre of town, a 30 to 50-minute journey costing VND40,000 per passenger (approximately US$2) each way.<\/p>\n Another affordable option from the airport is to take a taxi. They are quick, easy and providing you use the correct company, their drivers are very knowledgeable about the city.<\/p>\n As you walk through and exit the terminal, do not<\/strong> engage with anyone offering you a cab. Simply follow the signs to find the taxi rank at the front of the terminal. While a variety of cab firms operate in Saigon, the safest and most reliable are Mai Linh<\/a> and Vinasun<\/a>. <\/p>\n Lookout for their logos, beware of copycats, and simply approach the next Vinasun or Mai Linh in the line (click on the link above to see the logos so that you can recognize them at the airport). Drivers from other firms know the score, so do not worry about stepping past them to get to the cab you want.<\/p>\n A taxi from the airport to Ben Thanh Market in the centre of District 1 will cost between VND140,000 and VND200,000 (approximately US$7 to $10) including a mandatory VND10,00 airport charge. The journey takes between 30 and 50 minutes depending on traffic. Be sure to write down the name and full address of your hotel to show the driver.<\/p>\n As with arriving at the airport, ignore any offers for taxi or motorbike rides into town. Head to the taxi rank and get into a Mai Linh or Vinasun car. From here to Ben Thanh market in the centre of the city will cost approximately VND50,000 (just over US$2).<\/p>\n Saigon\u2019s main bus station sits in the heart of the town opposite Ben Thanh Market. Many popular hotels can be reached from here on foot, or via a short taxi journey costing no more than US$2.<\/p>\n Saigon boasts accommodation options to suit all budgets, from the super luxurious to the most basic, in a range of locations around the city.<\/p>\n Most travellers, naturally, are drawn to District 1 in the centre of town, where the backpacker hub of Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien Streets provide numerous budget hostels and hotels surrounded by tourist-friendly bars, restaurants and nightspots. It is worth checking online reviews first, but many are perfectly clean, quiet and comfortable.<\/p>\n Click here to see a large list of hotels in Saigon<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n Away from here, Dong Khoi Street, leading from the famous Notre Dame Cathedral to the Saigon River, is another popular location in District 1, particularly for those with a larger budget. Whether you choose author Graham Greene\u2019s residence of choice, the Hotel Continental Saigon, an impressive French-era building overlooking the equally impressive Saigon Opera House, or the modern hotels surrounding it, Dong Khoi is a bustling, vibrant, yet upscale area that\u2019s ideally positioned for exploring the rest of the city centre on foot.<\/p>\n For those looking to get a taste of Saigon life away from the tourist hotspots, District 3 is a good choice. Sitting directly adjacent to District 1, it too offers a range of high-quality, comfortable and international standard accommodation options while allowing quick and easy access to District 1 or the more off-the-beaten-track experiences nearby.<\/p>\n Tripwriter Hotel & Bistro<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Address: 185\/28 Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City<\/p>\n This modern boutique-style hotel sits on a quiet alleyway (or \u2018hem\u2019) running between the popular and lively backpacker strips of Bui Vien Street and Pham Ngu Lao Street. Its decor is a blend of 21st-century design and 19th-century colonial-era features, with all guests enjoying flat-screen TVs, free wifi and friendly, personal service from the hotel staff.<\/p>\n Huong Sen Hotel<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Address: 66-68-70 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.<\/p>\n Located in the middle of Dong Khoi Street, Huong Sen occupies one of the area\u2019s many historic buildings, now beautifully restored and featuring a pool and gym, and surrounded by restaurants, shops, bars, tailors, and site-seeing attractions such as the famous Saigon Opera House.<\/p>\n Hotel des Arts Saigon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Address 76-78 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.<\/p>\n As the first five-star boutique hotel in Saigon, Hotel des Arts is one of the city\u2019s most luxurious accommodation options, featuring a rooftop pool and cocktail bar, a fully-equipped gym, and several in-house drinking and dining options. Situated less than 500 metres from the Notre Dame Cathedral and the numerous bars and restaurants on Dong Khoi Street beyond, it\u2019s an ideal base for exploring the city.<\/p>\n Vietnam\u2019s currency is the Vietnamese Dong, or VND. At them moment I write, the exchange rate is around VND22,000 to 1 US Dollar. Click here<\/a> to get the real time exchange rate. <\/p>\n Dollars have now been widely phased out in Vietnam. Although some tour companies and travel agencies still quote prices in Dollars, with certain shops, restaurants and hotels also accepting the currency, visitors should expect to pay for most things with Dong.<\/p>\n ATMs can be found all over the city, either inside convenience stores, outside banks, or randomly lined up along the street. They dispense dong only.<\/p>\n Dollars cannot be bought or sold in Vietnamese banks. Use a private money changer (many can be found near Bui Vien or Dong Khoi streets) to exchange currency.<\/p>\n Vietnamese currency comes in paper note form only. Some notes can look deceptively similar, such as the VND100,000 and the VND500,000. Always make sure you know what you are handing over before anyone assumes you\u2019ve left a very generous tip!<\/p>\nWhen to Visit Saigon<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\nVisas for Vietnam<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\nDo you need a Visa for Vietnam? Click here to get in touch with the agency we recommend!<\/a><\/div>\nHow to get there<\/h2>\n
By Air<\/h3>\n
By Train<\/h3>\n
By Bus<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n![\"saigon](\"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/saigontransportation.jpg\" "\\"saigon")
<\/p>\nUpon arrival<\/h2>\n
Upon arrival from Saigon\u2019s airport<\/h3>\n
Upon arrival from Saigon’s train station<\/h3>\n
Upon arrival from Saigon’s bus station<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n![\"hotel](\"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/hotelsaigon.jpg\" "\\"hotel")
<\/p>\nWhere to stay in Saigon<\/h2>\n
Our top hotel picks<\/h2>\n
Budget<\/h3>\n
Mid-Range<\/h3>\n
Luxury<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n![\"money](\"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/moneyinvietnam.jpg\" "\\"money")
<\/p>\nMoney in Vietnam<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\nGetting around<\/h2>\n
Taxi<\/h3>\n